Albany Gun Show Near Capitol To Follow AG’s Procedures

The New York State Arms Collectors Association, Inc. will follow “model gun show procedures” developed by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman at its gun show this weekend at Empire State Plaza near the Capitol.

Schneiderman said the corporation, which runs the show, said it would follow his procedures, which requires guns brought by private sellers to be tagged to better oversee which ones were sold and that background checks were performed.

The gun show Saturday and Sunday comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature passed the toughest assault-weapons ban in the country Jan. 15 and added new regulations to gun sales and ownership.

The company runs the Albany Gun Show and the Syracuse Gun Show at the state fairgrounds in April. Schneiderman, a former Manhattan state senator, has investigated sales at guns shows, finding that private sales were being made without background checks.

“Gun violence is an epidemic, and my office is working with gun show operators to create simple guidelines to ensure that these deadly weapons don’t make it into the hands of felons, terrorists, the dangerously mentally ill and others that could not pass a background check,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “As we remain vigilant against the illegal sale of guns in New York State, we appreciate this operator’s willingness to join our efforts to achieve statewide adoption of our model gun show procedures.”

Here, according to Schneiderman’s news release, are the steps being taken at this weekend’s gun show:

• Post conspicuous signs throughout the shows, and give written notice to all dealers that New York State law requires that a National Instant Criminal Background Check be completed before the transfer of a gun at a gun show, including on the grounds of the show.

• Require that all guns brought into the gun show by private sellers are tagged so that, upon exiting, the operator can determine if the guns were sold and an NICS was performed.

• Provide access to a dealer who is authorized to conduct a NICS at cost.

• Limit the number of access doors at the show so that sellers and buyers have to enter and exit through an area where the NICS procedures can be monitored.

• Use reasonable means to prevent illegal gun sales outside of the building, including the parking lot.

• Alert local law enforcement that a show will be held in their area, request periodic patrols in the parking lots to deter illegal sales, and call them if illegal sales are observed or suspected.